Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abriel
Abriel
Abriel
Location: Meselyne Shire, Kaldor It is commonly rumored that Prince Brant of Nurelia
Holder: Bishop of Nurez was cloistered in seclusion at Abriel by Kalabin of Kaldor
Liege: Archbishop of Kaldor shortly after Nurelia’s Barons gave the throne to Kaldor’s
Population: 216 King. Few outside of Abriel believe this, as the story of
the unfortunate prince’s death at Olokand is more ro-
HISTORY mantic.
Abriel was settled by the devastated peoples who sur- When Kalabin took the throne, the Archbishop of
vived Lothrim the foulspawner’s reign of terror. Abriel Nurelia became the Bishop of Nurez. Abriel has contin-
grew from the ruins with the small kingdom of Nurelia ued as an important theological center for the church in
into a large settlement. Sanric II a devout Laranian Kaldor.
granted the lands to the Laranian Church in 170 and ECONOMICS
commissioned the construction of the abbey. The pros-
perous years preceding the migration wars resulted in a Abriel is the Hundred moot for Nelafayn Hundred, and
considerable investment of wealth in the grounds. a commercial center of agriculture. The Bishop down-
King Brant shared his father’s love of the religion and plays the importance of commerce.
continued substantial grants to the church, commission- The lands surrounding Abriel are rich, and produce a
ing many of the theological art-works at the abbey, in- variety of agricultural products. Good wheat, strong bar-
cluding the signature work Our Lady of Reluctance. ley; the swine are some of the best in the region. Small
The village was eastward enough to avoid much of the cattle herds are also kept in parts of the Hundred.
migration wars, but was sacked by the Western Taelda in The Miners Guild operates a stone quarry west of
235. Abriel for fees that provide additional resources to the
The abbey miraculously withstood the battle, but Lotin bishop.
the Gray was killed in a retaliatory assault on the barbarian
hordes.
Written By
J. Patrick McDonald
Illustrated By
Richard Luschek
Maps By
Patrick Nilsson
1
[A] Abriel Abbey
Seat of the Bishop of Nurez. (See the following pages VILLEIN (Lanas of Cyrnalian)
for a more detailed description) Size: 5
Lanas’ brother and two sons work his fields. His
[B] Bishop’s Hall
daughter, a dreamer, helps his Goodwife manage their
The personal residence of the Bishop. The hall is also
household.
used for the Hundred Moot. Manorial duties of the Lord
are generally handled by the able but somewhat frail
steward Leradas of Elen. (See the following pages for a
more detailed description)
2 METALSMITH (Mondir of Asana)
Size: 4 Quality: **** Prices: Average
Mondir is single, irreverent, and a regular patron of
[C] Chapter house the Chapel Inn. His business consists of smithing for the
Golian of Bireth, Reblena. (Kt. Commander) of the community. He supports three resident journeymen.
3
fighting Order of the Lady of Paladins. He is assisted by
five Melana (Knights). The bishop barely tolerates this
FARMER (Thiman of Sarlis)
small military contingent. No Meken (common soldiery) Size: 4
are allowed. Golian secretly reports what little he can to Thiman’s young wife recently delivered twins. He is
Edine Kyne. (See the following pages for a more detailed the only freehold farmer in Abriel.
4
description) COTTAR (Balin of Ardin)
[D] Natural geography and fortifications Size: 6
The Abbey is protected by significant stone outcrop- Balin has more children than he can feed. His wife
pings, and natural geography. These natural defenses died last winter giving birth to his fifth. His fortunes may
were enhanced and a gate added when the Abbey was improve over the next years, as his sons become old
built. The precautions likely saved the Abbey from pillage enough to help work the fields.
shortly after their completion.
[E] Granaries
The Granaries hold enough stores to last a year. 5 HALF-VILLEIN (Rakren of Kyrt)
Size: 2
Rakren recently married Inesa the eldest daughter of
[F] Burial plots and crypts Torten of Faralin. Formerly a cottar, the marriage has
Abriel has extensive crypts. It is a popular burial site improved his fortunes.
for clerics and occasionally, with significant donation, for
Kaldor’s devout nobility.
* Local Key for the main crypt (See the following
pages for a more detailed description)
6 COTTAR (Davian of Ebarda)
Size: 6
Davian cares for his aging father, his wife’s daft
[G] Storage and tool sheds mother, and two small children. His fortunes are bleak.
7
These buildings are locked. VILLEIN (Kaman of Varlis)
[H] Main Stables Size: 8
Bonded Master Ostler Asalern of Lythar. Master Lythar Kaman was one of the wealthier villeins in Abriel un-
draws stable boys from the local peasantry. His budget til Peoni blessed he and his wife with six daughters. He
does not allow a journeyman, but he could use at least has saved every penny he could for the last ten years for
two. Asalern also cares for the bishop’s steeds. his daughters’ dowries. His wife is busy arranging
[I] Weapon smithy matches for his two eldest.
8
See the chapter house on the following pages. VILLEIN (Torten of Faralin)
[J] Bishop’s Stables Size: 8
See the Main Stables above. Torten is the wealthiest serf in Abriel. His household
has diminished as he married off his two eldest daughters.
He has four sons coming of age; each sought after as
husbands, and two younger daughters.
10
table. Charancë has had to hunt other forests on occa-
BEADLE (Birain of Tabela) sion. While this is technically poaching, he has tacit
Size: 5 agreements with neighboring Woodwards, and he never
Birain stands over 6 feet and there are few men over-hunts a wood. His eldest daughter has learned
in the Hundred that will wrestle with him at village fairs. much of her father’s craft. He has two young sons. His
He has two strong sons who assist him with his tasks as wife is the envy of many a man in Abriel.
Beadle. His youngest daughter is 13, and hopes dearly to
wed Korian of Faralin, the third son of that clan.
17 HALF-VILLEIN (Tolidal of Barl)
11
Size: 7
HALF-VILLEIN (Landon of Arnerl) Tolidal’s fortunes are falling. He has a wife, and
Size: 5 two small children. His two hapless brothers and a
Landon is overly fond of the ale his wife makes wicked sister comprise the rest of his clan.
and spends much of his time in its pleasures and less in
his fields. At his wife’s demands, he has been beset with
the care of her sister and two illegitimate nieces. 18 MILLER (Aras of Dyrela)
Size: 7 Quality: **** Prices: High
12
Aras is head of the local Lia-Kavair. His
HALF-VILLEIN (Gralda of Henermel) brother-in-law serves as lieutenant and runs games of
Size: 6 chance at the Chapel Inn. Other activities are frowned
Gralda is a capable husbandman. He and his upon by the Varela sisters. Aras has not yet forced his
wife care for his aging father, two sons, and a daughter. hand. Aras neglects his wife and three children. He
13 HALF-VILLEIN (Hordis of Nart) makes a sizeable profit by shorting the local peasants on
Size: 4 their milled grains.
19
Hordis married Palael of Faralin who bore him a REEVE (Ragen of Charen)
son and a daughter. Hordis was a villein when they wed. Size: 6
He has since lost favor with the Bishop. He has not spo- Ragen is 54. A wise man and extremely com-
ken to his father-in-law after the incident. petent husbandman. He has been Reeve for over 20
14 HALF-VILLEIN (Berry of Awelesh) years. His adult sons help in the fields and his daughters
Size: 3 care for their sickly mother. Little happens in Abriel that
Berry inherited his holdings from his father. He he is not aware of.
20
works the land with his two brothers. HALF-VILLEIN (Yrunda of Sosor)
21
Inn. The Inn is popular with Abbey visitors, many of HALF-VILLEIN (Monart of Banadar)
whom prefer it to the Bishop’s guest quarters. Frelyn of Size: 6
Varela runs the Inn with the help of her two sisters, Eilith Monart has two daughters of age. He is negoti-
& Hanlena. The sisters are quite beautiful, and take a ating for marriages into clan Faralin. His sons are old
casual attitude toward venery. Tallyn of Baeryn, one of enough to work the fields. He petitioned for Villein status
Frelyn’s lovers and a man of Jarin descent, is capable of last year but was denied.
handling any trouble. (See the following pages for a
more detailed description)
22 COTTAR (Gabril of Narador)
Size: 3
Gabril is a happy man despite his relative pov-
erty. His wife gave birth to their first son last winter.
25
married sisters and a hapless brother hamper his efforts
COTTAR (Tamin of Cyrela) to improve his station.
Size: 1
Tamin is extremely handsome. He is desired by
many of Abriel’s daughters. His abilities as a farmer have
kept him single due to the better judgement of their fa-
31 CHARCOALER (Harabis of Melt)
Size: 5 Quality: *** Prices: Average
Harabis has considerable skill with slight of
thers. hand. He toys with sulfur, coal and other materials to
26
perform small feats of pyrotechnics for the amusement of
HERDER (Urnin of Sargeriel) his three children. His wife makes the best dark ale in the
Size: 6 hundred.
32
Urnin and his two brothers tend the Abriel
VILLEIN (Rorten of Ibin)
herds. Abriel has a descent selection of swine and a few
Size: 6
cattle. Urnin is married and has two young daughters.
27
Rorten lost his wife in labor with their fifth child.
VILLEIN (Ibrial of Urlain) He has three sons and two daughters.
Size: 7
Ibrial married into his wife’s holdings. He works
hard to feed his aging mother-in-law, a sister-in-law, and
three young sons.
33 COTTAR (Lorian of Krebel)
Size: 3
Lorian cares for his aging parents. They have
28
lived a long life and demand constant care. Lorian grows
VILLEIN (Unden of Kolarbar) weary of it.
Size: 6
Unden is addicted to Fanosel, which he buys
from Aras of Dyrela. He beats his wife and four children.
His eldest son has stolen a dagger from the Abriel armory
34 GLEBE (Merudus of Arolis)
Size: 5
Merudus is a fat and jolly man who is overly
and plans to murder his father. fond of ale and music. He is a good man and cares
deeply for his flock. On occasion he has allowed his pas-
sion for drink to threaten his vow of celibacy. He deeply
regrets this. He is assisted by two priests and two priest-
esses.
Chapter House
Normally a noisy place, the chapter house at Abriel is
gravely silent. Cheering, swordplay and other knightly
“virtues” are strictly forbidden by the Bishop. Meals are
taken under silence and anything but a normal conversa-
tion about important issues such as divinity, are consid-
ered very inappropriate by the masters of the abbey.
Knights in attendance commonly spend a minimum of
one night in ten in vigil over their armor and weapons.
Daily confessions are encouraged, and penance is often
excessive. In addition to the penance a Knight might re-
ceive from priests elsewhere for even the smallest of sins,
the penance at Abriel is likely to include any of the fol-
lowing: additional nights of vigil; attendance/assistance at
a second daily mass (the knights attend as acolytes); vows
of silence of one to ten (or more) days. While these pen-
ances may seem minor, for a Knight there is nothing
worse. 6. Armory. Bonded Master Weaponcrafter Thrarthir of
It is rumored that those knights who stay at Abriel long Virimë. The small contingent of the Lady of Paladins at
enough eventually commit the gravest sin: lying in con- Abriel affords Thrarthir significant leisure time. What he
fession. The sinner hopes beyond all else that he can fab- doesn’t spend at the Chapel Inn, he uses for the forging
ricate a believable enough egregious sin, that the cleric of his greatest work. A battle sword of the finest quality
will send him on a dangerous quest and thus free him that he has been working on for a decade. (see [I] on the
from the torture of life at Abriel. local GM map to locate the smithy)